Buy what you love

Tim Straker and Mike Ebright haunt flea markets and salvage yards for unique finds that connect to their passions. Not limiting themselves to the usual decorative items, they fill their Columbus, Ohio, home with pieces that speak of family history, personal interests or regional pride.

"We buy what we love and live with it for as long as we like," Tim says. Their dining room (left) and other rooms in their German Village home showcase their unusual collections. Click through our slides to find out how Tim and Mike display their finds -- with ideas you can use in your own home.

Quirky groupings

Tim's fascination with all shapes and sizes of vintage lightbulbs began with an old string of holiday lights painted by his mom and crackled by age. (Also, lightbulb inventor Thomas Edison was born in Ohio!) One way to display the bulbs: under a glass bell top.

Take-home tip: Don't shy away from collecting something that seems ho-hum, like lightbulbs. When you immerse yourself in the search, you'll discover surprising and intriguing variations.

Historical leanings

Tim's grandfather was a chief engineer for A.E. Hull Pottery Company of Crooksville, Ohio. Tim's 400-piece pottery collection, displayed in a custom cabinet, is a tribute to that legacy. Favorites are prototypes his grandfather designed.

Take-home tip: Indulge yourself. Tim may never use all these pieces, but they have a place because they are meaningful to his family.

Salvaged furniture mix

Bits of gold still remain on stools salvaged from a gold-leaf factory; they're paired with a custom leather banquette. A $20 garage-sale side table gains new status beside a rare midcentury-modern chair. Vintage advertising posters add to a retro feel.

Take-home tip: Tim encourages friends to mix various eras or pedigrees. "Even the tackiest pieces have a place when set in the right context," he says.

Drawn to history

Tim and Mike were charmed by German Village's brick streets, gas lights, hidden gardens and restored brick homes built in the mid-1800s by German settlers, many of whom worked in nearby breweries. They've used local materials and craftspeople when updating their home, bringing warmth to their modern aesthetic.